Nathaniel Ndegwahttps://nathanielndegwa.com
No.1 Digital Marketing Consultant in KenyaMon, 18 May 2020 05:08:41 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.3How To Select The Best Digital Marketing Agency In Kenyahttps://nathanielndegwa.com/how-to-select-the-best-digital-marketing-agency-in-kenya/
https://nathanielndegwa.com/how-to-select-the-best-digital-marketing-agency-in-kenya/#commentsSun, 17 May 2020 20:17:22 +0000https://nathanielndegwa.com/?p=785Since marketing in Kenya went digital, businesses are now on the hunt for the best digital marketing agency in Kenya. The way to arrive at the best social media marketing partner of choice is by examining a few key components.

So here are 7 things you need to know before selecting a digital marketing agency in Kenya.

Do I Need A Digital Marketing Agency?

First, you need to establish that there is a genuine need for digital marketing services in your business or organization. Most business people are very good at serving their products or services but they suck at marketing. Some have tried a hand trying to marketing by themselves on social media without much success. You definitely have a need for digital marketing services if your marketing is not giving you the clientele you need and you don’t have the time, expertise, or a competent in house team handling this for you.

What Is My Budget For Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing, like any marketing channel, has a price associated with it. If you are looking to transition from traditional marketing to digital, then decide what percentage of your total marketing budget is going to be hived off.

Online marketing has the best return on investment promise, and a lot can be done, measurably with even the smallest of budgets. With a good digital strategy that is implemented expertly, one can achieve amazing results.

Before setting out to look for your digital marketing partner, first determine your budget.

How Much TimeWill I Invest In The Partnership?

Digital marketing solutions work best where a business effectively partners with a media marketing entity. In short, you cannot just delegate your social media marketing to an agency and sit and wait for results. You must invest time in designing the digital strategy together and review results and feedback as a team so as to achieve the best results.

Commit sufficient time to educate the online marketing partner on your brand, target clientele, and expected outcomes as well as review results on the regular to adjust the strategy accordingly. Always remember it is a partnership.

Do they Have A Good Track Record For Other Businesses in Your Niche?

As you do your homework, check the agency’s track record with other businesses in the same niche as you. Experience is a valuable metric, but they also must keep up to date with the latest trends and strategies. The company should be able to tell you about what’s new right now in digital marketing and how they can use these new tools to help your business.

An agency with a history of success should also have references. If a company has had a good experience with the agency, they will be more than happy to speak with you and recommend their services. Testimonials on their website are great, but you’ll actually want to talk with past and present clients to get a better idea of how the agency will work with you.

Do They Look The Part?

Keep in mind that these agencies aren’t just selling their clients’ products, but also their own. When you research different agencies, look at how they market themselves. If you enjoy the look of their website and find it easy to navigate, this is a good sign. On the other hand, if their website underwhelms you, it’s a red flag. A good digital marketing agency’s website will tell you exactly who they are and what they do, as well as how they can help your brand.

Their social media presence and content are also another thing to check. Do you like the way they communicate about their own products?. How about their style and creativity?. Choose an agency that suits your style so you will enjoy working together for a long time.

Longterm Or Short Term?

Depending on the business needs or the products being marketed, a business can choose either to have a short term or longterm approach. A service like search engine optimization (SEO) requires longer than lead generation campaigns on social media.

If it is the first time for your business to venture into the digital marketing space, then a short term engagement is best. Run a campaign, then evaluate the results and returns then use that to determine a long-term engagement.

Value Or Price?

The cost will obviously be a consideration when it comes down to your final decision, but you shouldn’t go with whoever has the cheapest rate. The least expensive agency will rarely offer you the best value. Ask instead what you get for your money, and form a clear understanding of what’s expected from each of you. This can help you have the confidence that your money isn’t being wasted, rather invested in your company’s future.

Compare what you are getting for your investment, be it search engine optimization services, web design, graphic design or social media management, or social media marketing. Measure the cost of the service with the promised value your business will get back. Let the return on investment decide who you pick.

In conclusion.

Digital marketing isn’t as simple as throwing money at the problem and watching the results roll in. This will be a strategic partnership that will build your business toward a better future, and one that you should view as a long-term relationship. Choosing the right partner will take some time, but it will be worth it. But if you make an impulsive decision, you’ll end up wasting your time and money.

If your company requires the services of a quality digital marketing agency, consider my services. I am based in Nairobi Kenya. With a specialty in analytics-driven and ROI-focused lead generation, I will implement digital strategies and take a customized approach to build a plan based on your industry and current position within that competitive landscape. Learn more about my digital marketing services or get in touch to receive a free assessment today.

Online reputation management in Kenya is a necessary service for both individuals and companies. Anyone with a presence online needs to be in charge of their reputation on the internet. This is for the very simple reason that the internet never forgets. My goal is to help you take charge of your reputation online. Here are the 10 things you need to know about reputation management in Kenya.

Do I need Reputation Management Services?

Most people feel that they don’t need online reputation management in Kenya. And, they are almost right. A healthy person doesn’t need a doctor, yet, right?. Yet, online reputation management is being proactive by taking control of your brand story on the internet.

It is always good to check where your brand’s online reputation stands at any given time. If you go to a search engine like Google and search for your name of the name of your business and look at the results. You will see one of the following :

No results at all – This means anyone who will write anything about you will regardless of what they say.

If all the results on the first pages seem positive, you are not doing so bad. But, if the content is not authored by you it is still a risk.

To take it further, try a negative keyword search. This is where you insert a negative word before your name or the name of your company and hit search. For example company, X is a scam. If you get results that paint a negative picture, then you are overdue for a reputation makeover.

Can I Manage My Own Reputation Online?

There are things in life that need to must to be handled a professional. I can bet only 1 out of 10 guys can fix an engine problem by themselves if their car breaks down. Managing your reputation online requires a specific set of skills, tools, and expertise that few people have time to learn. But, there a few things that you can do by yourself that will make your reputation stand out online.

Avoid oversharing on your social media accounts

Make sure your social media bios talk about what you do professionally

Limit what people who are not in your circles are able to see on your profiles online

What Does An Online Reputation Specialist Do?

To put it in very simple terms, an online reputation management consultant ensures that your reputation is correctly projected on the internet. He does this by highlighting the positive aspects of your brand through your website, social media accounts, and other platforms.

Can Negative Reviews About Me Or My Brand Be Erased From The Internet?

Unfortunately, the internet never forgets. But, it is possible to push negative reviews into obscurity by building up your profile and relevant accounts. There is a saying, that if it is not on page one of Google, it doesn’t exist.

How Hard Is It To Recover From Negative Brand Publicity

It is definitely more expensive to recover from a damaging online reputation incident. Depending on the extent of the incident, it can be more than twice as expensive compared to proactively building your brand through reputation management. You are better off ready because you recover faster.

What Are The Most Common Problems in Reputation Management in Kenya?

On a fast glace, bad reviews, negative blog posts, wrong information, and outdated profiles. These things, other than portraying a careless attitude towards your brand image. They also obscure and make it difficult for those who want to do business with you.

I Don’t Post on Social Media, What Do I need Reputation Management For?

The internet is not meant to work again’st you, but to work for you.

Not having a relevant presence on the internet is not a win. The internet is one of the best leverage tools ever invented, and making use of it for your personal or business brand is not an advantage to be overlooked.

What Is the Benefit of Online Reputation Management To My Business

The internet has opened up the places where a business can trade. It has also opened up opportunities for malicious agents on the web to harm brands. This might be to take away your market share or just unscrupulous competitive approaches. If a company is not keen on what is being published on the web about it, then its reputation is at risk.

What Is the Benefit of Online Reputation Management An Individual

Let’s take an example where someone posts an article that claims you were dismisseddisgracefully from your previous job. Even if it is true you were fired, when potential employers search for you online, which they will, they will hesitate to reach out to you.

Worse still if you are an individual who sells products or services for a living, potential clientele will just move on to someone with a better reputation. After all, competitors are only a click away.

What Can I Do To Safeguard My Online Reputation In Kenya?

First, set up a Google alert for your self or your business. This way Google will alert you whenever something positive or negative that mentions you or your brand appears online.

Use your brand social media accounts to share relevant content regularly. if it is a personal social media account, a few posts a month relating to your professional field will do the trick.

Conclusion

Search engines are not biased, and they will always serve up content when someone searches for your brand. It is up to you to ensure those results are positive. To take care of your reputation is a personal responsibility. It will need strategy and the services of a professional. Otherwise, all your marketing and social media efforts will be for nothing.

Yesterday I had my first meeting with a new mentor. I have been planning to get a certain area of my professional development aligned for quite a while. Finally, it happened yesterday, not at the time and place agreed on originally, but when he said just come, I jumped at the opportunity and drove to where he was, fast as I could.

As soon as I arrived, I popped up my phone, went right away to my favorite efficiency app, opened a new note and started noting down key thoughts. Evernote has become such a key part of how I organize my life because it ensures I never miss any important thing I need to remember. Incidentally, one of the nuggets my mentor shared with me yesterday is the power of focus and consistent hard-work, and Evernote enables me to build this two tenets of success, seamlessly.

Many a time we all find ourselves struggling to balance the various aspects of life that demand our input and to prioritize how we use our time. For many professionals, life is at a point where the in-tray of life is overflowing and it is super hard to figure out the most urgent thing to sort out first.

Evernote and efficiency

In this post, I will explore a number of simple ways that one can use Evernote to get more efficient, by easily organizing and tracking what has been done.

To do lists

Few things trump the power of a todo list in getting things done. Organizing your work in a list ensures that you keep track of what needs to be done and ensure it is done. Most people use pen and paper, notebooks or diaries to track their work, meetings, take notes etc. All these are simply and easily integrated into Evernote.

How to create a to do list in Evernote

First, you need to create an account for free on Evernote, you can do that by clicking here. After you sign in to your free account, you have three ways you can access your Evernote account.

Evernote web at www.evernote.com

Evernote desktop by downloading and installing the web version on your computer

Evernote mobile by downloading the app from your preferred app store and installing it in your phone or tablet.

Once you do that, then you are ready to go. Here is how to create a to do list on Evernote;

Give the note an appropriate name – preferably the day’s date and relevant name e.g.Todo list for 11.08.2017

In the body of the note, from the tool bar below the note title in Evernote desktop (on mobile it is the bar at the bottom of the not before your keypad, just scroll left to right), click/tap on insert check box, it looks like a ticked square/checked box.

A check box will appear with a cursor in front of it.

Type the first item on your to do list.

Enter to add another item

Keep going until you have entered all of them

Oce you execute a task, just tap or click the checkbox and the item will be crossed out, a very satisfying exercise I must add.

How is this better than you dairy?

Evernote provides you with a lot of wonderful features that make you to do lists so much more functional. Here are some of them;

Reminders.

You can add multiple reminders to a note that will remind you via email and can also integrate with your calendar. You will never forget to do anything again. More on how to add reminders to Evernote here

Automation

If your todo list is repetitive, you can set your notes to create themselves automatically. More on that here

Records

You can track your performance at the end of each day and over a period of time by just checking how well you delivered on your to do list over that period of time. This can be helpful if you are tracking a specific goal or even for reporting purposes.

Access

Because of the versatility of Evernote, you can access your notes from anywhere. Evernote syncs your notes automatically on the different devices, be it your desktop computer, tablet, phone or just wherever you have internet access. Get to work wherever you are.

Security

A notebook can be lost, so can a diary and all your work , contacts, appointments with it. Evernote is a secure cloud solution that ensures you never lose any of your valuable information.

I hope you begin your journey to efficiency today. Sign up for a free Evernote account here, if you haven’t already.

Leave a comment and let me know if there is an area you would like to get more efficient and we can figure out how we can put Evernotete to the task.

Always happy to get you more efficient!.

]]>https://nathanielndegwa.com/blog-personal-efficiency-with-evernote/feed/0You’ve been hacked!! Here a 3 simple ways to ensure this never happens to your websitehttps://nathanielndegwa.com/youve-been-hacked-here-a-3-simple-ways-to-ensure-this-never-happens-to-your-website/
https://nathanielndegwa.com/youve-been-hacked-here-a-3-simple-ways-to-ensure-this-never-happens-to-your-website/#respondMon, 11 Nov 2019 15:18:32 +0000https://nathanielndegwa.com/?p=621Last year, during the Huduma Number craze, a number Kenya government owned websites were hacked. If you dint know about this already, have a read here.

But that’s stale news, what I want you to notice is the URL, or in proper English, the website address as entered in the browser. Notice the inverted exclamation mark?. That is the red flag right there.

#1 SSL Certificate

The first step to securing a website is to install an SSL certificate. An SL certificate in leyman’s language a padlock for your website.

How do you know if an SSL certificate is installed in your website?. It is simple, for example , if you are using Google Chrome as your browser , you would see this error when you enter an unsecured website address.

So what does not having an SSL certificate mean for your website’s security?

What does this mean for you? If your website doesn’t have a secure, encrypted connection for your visitors to use, Google Chrome will notify every visitor that your website is not secure by flagging it in the search bar.

But that is not the only problem, not having a security certificate, or an SSL certificate installed in your website mean you are vulnerable to attacks.

Simply put, a website without an SSL certificate is like a fancy house without a door lock. Any thief can walk in and out. And that is what happened to the Kenya Government websites that got hacked.

Whether you already have a website or are about to launch one, a dedicated SSL certificate will fix the problem. Your website will be secure and your visitors will see a “Secured” message along with a green padlock:

Or a locked padlock will appear before the website address that has an s after the http:// like this.

#2 Outdated versions of the a content management system

Most websites are built on CMS, or content management platforms, popularly known as “templates”. The most famous one being WordPress.

Thank fully most content management platforms come with auto update options, but depending on customization done by the web developer, sometime auto updating is disabled. This is for the simple reason that updates sometimes mess up custom changes and make the website “break”. This means the website does not load or perform as expected, thus it is a preference of developers to tun off this function.

Here is how to check if your word press version is up to date. Log in to your wp-admin, a.k.a the website’s back end. Click on the updates button on the left side.

You should see it as per the image above. if it the settings are not on auto update, just change it to auto.

So what does an outdated CMS affect your website’s security?

An outdated CMS is vulnerable and susceptible to attacks from hackers. Security updates or security releases are extremely important in order to prevent cyber-attacks. A breach in your website security will reduce your online credibility and can result in business losses as well. More on this here.

#3. Outdated Plugins

Plugins come with CMSes, just like smartphones phones come with apps . As you may be already be aware, hacking is a full time career. It is a hacker’s job to find vulnerabilities and exploit them. This is why CMS plugin developers release updates or ‘patches’as famously known for their plugins.

So what does an outdated plugins affect your website’s security?

This is one of the reasons why it is important to have a professional manage your website. This is because most if not all plugins are updated manually. For the simple reason that patches can alter functionalities on the website, and website admins don’t like those kind of surprises.

The Fix:
Ensure all your plugins are up-to-date to strengthen your website’s security.

Here is how to update a plug in
Step 1: Go to your WordPress dashboard. From the left panel, select Installed Plugins. It’ll take you to the plugins page.

Step 2: In the plugin page, you can see all the plugins installed on your site. While scrolling through the list you should be able to see the plugins that are ready for an update. Click on Update Now option that appears on the plugins that ready for an update.

If you follow these three simple steps, you will above fold, a need not fear getting hacked. Of course this is not exhaustive, but it is a fine start.

Feel free to reach out for a free security analysis of your website by writing to info@nathaniendegwa.com. If it was helpful , please leave a comment and share.

]]>https://nathanielndegwa.com/youve-been-hacked-here-a-3-simple-ways-to-ensure-this-never-happens-to-your-website/feed/0Internet Marketing for Small Business in Kenyahttps://nathanielndegwa.com/digital-marketing-internet-marketing-kenya/
https://nathanielndegwa.com/digital-marketing-internet-marketing-kenya/#respondMon, 28 Oct 2019 06:29:11 +0000https://nathanielndegwa.com/?p=587Small business owners in Kenya are currently facing up to big giants with deep pockets. But who said competition in the market place is fair?. It is time to wipe off that wimpy face and get to building your brand on the Internet.

So, what do you need to know?

When small business owners begin the search for ways to grow sales from the Internet, they are often hit with big words that are hard to understand , like:

SEO

Key Words

Social Media Marketing

Ranking

Traffic …and the list can go on for days!.

But before you close this tab:

Take a deep breath, settle down, this will be the easiest read. I aim to be a simple and as direct as possible. So indulge me for a few minutes. You will be glad you learn a few tricks that will change your business for the better.

Here is what you will learn.

My first goal is to give you an understanding of what web marketing is.
My second one is to give you actionable strategies you can implement and get immediate results.
So lets begin.
Here’s what you will know by the end of this article;

Kenyans and social media platforms

Social Media best practices

Social Media Advertising

Why you need to measure effectiveness and ROI

Opportunities : Quick wins

It’s not just the internet that’s growing rapidly, there are other important milestones including:

More than half the world now uses a smartphone;

Almost two-thirds of the world’s population now has a mobile phone;

More than half of the world’s web traffic now comes from mobile phones;

More than half of all mobile connections around the world are now ‘broadband’;

More than one in five of the world’s population shopped online in the past 30 days.

One of the fastest way to get your business noticed by your prospective clients on the Internet in Kenya is through social media.

#1. Social Media Marketing in Kenya

A lot of Kenyans are on social media, that’s a fact.
Most Kenyans are online on their phones

Source http://wearesocial.com

So what do these internet stats mean for a small business?
We can clearly see that:

More than 7 Million Kenyans are active on social media
Whatsapp and Facebook are the leading platforms, followed by Youtube and Instagram.

Therefore:

It means all small businesses in Kenya need to be relevantly present in these platforms.

Which brings us to the next big point:
#2. Best practice in Social Media marketing in Kenya for small businesses

Social media is meant for being social. Not for selling.I know that might sound like a paradox, but hear me out.
People sign up on social media to connect with their friends, check out new stuff and may be get inspired.
Few people go to social media looking to buy stuff.This means the content you post on your accounts must prompt engagement.Selling is secondary.

The 80/20 principle applies here:

80 percent of your content should be inspiration, only 20% should be about your business/brand.
Here are you quick wins you can apply immediately to your social media content:

Aim to inspire and engage, the sales will happen naturally.

Use images that people can connect with – be natural.

Brand your images relevantly.

Use a social tone – nothing too serious or too selling.

Be responsive – No one wants to get a chat response 24 hrs later, do an auto responder if necessary.

Tweet: Aim to inspire and engage, the sales will happen naturally. Use images that people can connect with – be natural Brand your images relevantly Use a social tone – nothing too serious or too selling. Be responsive – No one wants to get a chat response 24 hrs later, do an auto responder if necessary
Here is an example from one on the brands I support.

Branding images for social media
A good social media branded image

#3. Social Media Advertising in Kenya

Good organic content will always get you in front of the right audience and keep you there. However, there are times you need to reach new audiences . For example when you have a new product or an event , it makes sense to advertise on social media.
So what’s the best way to go about it?

Here are some quick wins on social media advertising for small business in Kenya:

Know the platform to use

We are in Kenya – Remember the stats we began with?. What is the biggest social media platform in Kenya in 2019?. You guessed right, its Whatsapp, followed by Facebook. If you didn’t already know, Facebook own Whatsapp.

This means if you advertise on these two platforms effectively, you are likely to reach the widest possible audience in Kenya on social media today. In a different post, I will explore ways to advertise on both Whatsapp Facebook.

Did you know about Whatsapp business by the way?. Whatsapp launched a business version of the app this year. We will looked at how to use it in another post.

2. Tell stories, always

Tell a story – As humans, we are wired to listen to a story. Trust me, people will click to read a good story even when they know they are being sold something.

Don’t just post a bland selling advert, tell a story about your product.

It is a simple marketing philosophy, always sell the benefit, not the product.

3. Call to action

All ads that convert have an effective call to action. A call to action or CTA, is something that prompts a desired the action. Those colorful click here, or sign up now! must be in the right place.

4 Choose your audience

Carefully select your audience, remember, you are spending your hard earned money on this. So invest it wisely. Very few products need everyone to see it, so if yours is not that product, ensure you choose your audience wisely. Most social media platforms, if not all, give you a variety of ways to segment an audience. Either by location, gender, age, interests etc, pick your most ideal potential clients.

5. Test and adjust

Run a short ad first, may be for a day or two, then review the results and adjust accordingly. If it is working fine, then keep going.
This brings us to the final point on this post for small business in Kenya, how to measure if what you are doing is working.

#6. Why you need to measure effectiveness and ROI

If you know something about me is that I love being effective. You can learn more about how I do it here. There is no point is spending money and time marketing your small business online in Kenya when you can’t measure the results. I believe every investment worth your money has to have a demonstrable, attractive ROI (Return on Investment) to warrant your investment.

I usually cringe when old school marketing managers sign off millions to advertising platforms whose results they can’t measure. Don’t get me wrong, I personally don’t have a problem with TV or print, they have their place. But for a small business in Kenya with a shoe string budget, please, don’t go down that road.

So how do you measure ROI when doing internet marketing for your small business?, it is by interrogating these key metrics;

Impressions : The total number of times your ad was served

Engagements : This is a measure of different interactions of the ad by those who viewed it like liking, commenting, shares etc.

Conversion rate : This is factor of the people who see you advertisement and those who take the desired action. For example , if 500 people see you ad and only 50 take the desired action, then you conversion rate is 50 ÷ 500 * 100 = 10%.

Clicks: The number of times your ad was clicked on

Click through rate (CTR) : CTR is the number of clicks that your ad receives divided by the number of times your ad is shown: clicks ÷ impressions = CTR. For example, if you had 5 clicks and 100 impressions, then your CTR would be 5%.

So how does understanding these measures help you know if your ad was effective?
The ideal ad should have a high CTR and conversion rate, that is , people taking the desired action. In some cases, all you want are engagements.
I hope this gives you a good idea on how to start marketing your small business on the internet in Kenya today.
If you would like and in depth analysis of your business online strategy, shoot an email to info@nathanielndegwa.com.
Leave a comment or a question below and we will get back to you .

I was talking to a couple of my clients last month, and I realized that they were unaware of something phenomenal. If you are a business person in Kenya, you need to sit up an listen. Something amazing just happened and few business people know about it:

WhatsApp Business app was launched in January 2018 on Android and is geared towards small and medium enterprises, and helping them connect with their customers.

Why is Whatsapp a BIG DEAL?

Well, if you are not aware that as of January 2018 , Whatsapp is the biggest social media platform in Kenya, then you need to read this post I did a while ago for some quick insight on Social Media for small businesses in Kenya.

Over 7 Million Kenyans are active on social media, and over 70% of them are on Whatsapp.

This means that any business that values customer feedback and wishes to communicate with its clients in their preferred channel needs to be on Whatsapp Business,period.

Whatsapp Business Features

Business Profiles, which can provide potential customers with useful information such as a business description, email or store addresses, and website. So an Small to Medium Business will be able to create their business profile on Whatsapp Business, which will be highlighted to regular users on WhatsApp.

Messaging tools, where WhatsApp offers smart messaging tools like quick replies, etc. to help provide fast answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). There are also greeting messages for customers and away messages as well.

Business owners also get to see messaging statistics and review what messages have been read and see what is working on the platform.

There is also be the option of WhatsApp Web to send and receive messages with WhatsApp Business on the desktop.

The account type will let users know if they are talking to a business as it will listed as a Business Account. WhatsApp will also have some Confirmed Accounts over time for a few businesses.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s how to get it.

On you Android phone, go to your google play store, search for Whatsapp Business, you will see an app with the below , download and install it.

How to set up Whatsapp Business

Create “WhatsApp Business Profile”:

Open WhatsApp Business App > Tap the menu button indicated as 3 dots at the upper right corner of the app> Settings > Business settings > Profile.

Here is a useful Whatsapp Business Tip

One of the sleekest ways to implement Whatsapp business is to integrate it to your website. This way, any of the client visiting you can strike a conversation instantly with you. This can be great for customer service as well as sales. I have implemented this for a number of my clients with amazing results.